diff --git a/qga/main.c b/qga/main.c
index 6caf215575..538e4ee299 100644
--- a/qga/main.c
+++ b/qga/main.c
@@ -558,8 +558,8 @@ static void process_command(GAState *s, QDict *req)
     rsp = qmp_dispatch(QOBJECT(req));
     if (rsp) {
         ret = send_response(s, rsp);
-        if (ret) {
-            g_warning("error sending response: %s", strerror(ret));
+        if (ret < 0) {
+            g_warning("error sending response: %s", strerror(-ret));
         }
         qobject_decref(rsp);
     }